variants
or ax
plural axes
1
: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2
: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing (see dress entry 1 sense 6e) or spalling stone
3
informal
a
: removal from office or release from employment : dismissal
—usually used with the
Employees with poor evaluations got the axe.
Trump quickly gave him the ax [=fired him] for his incompetence.—
Laura Petrecca
Laura Petrecca
b
: abrupt elimination or severe reduction of something
Unlimited expense accounts, signing bonuses, and office plants—all are getting the ax [=being cut or eliminated] thanks to corporate cost-cutting measures.—Amanda Hinnant
Amanda HinnantNo party was brave enough to offend its supporters by taking an axe to [=severely reducing] expenditure.—The Economist
The Economist4
slang
: any of several musical instruments (such as a guitar or a saxophone)
variants
or ax
axed; axing; axes
1
a
: to shape, dress (see dress entry 1 sense 6e), or trim with an axe
axe stone
b
: to chop, split, or sever with an axe
axe branches from a tree
2
informal
: to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget)
The TV program was axed from the new schedule.
Synonyms
Examples of axe in a Sentence
Noun
the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax
Verb
The boss told him that he had been axed.
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
Recent Examples on the Web
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Listen to this article A man accused of killing his wife with an axe in 2021 while their two young children were in their Ansonia home has been found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
Did Shannon, in addition to her tacky bridesmaid dress, bring along her axe?
—Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024
Popular on Variety Either way that Gilmour’s touring regimen might or might not turn out in years to come, the Intuit Dome was a fine place to be alive and living in the moment Friday, under the spell of a man who is very careful with that axe.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2024
He’s being investigated in the killing of a minor with an axe.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Indoor activities in the more than 30,000 square-foot facility include games for adults and kids from corn hole to football bowling, ping pong, pickleball, axe throwing and board games.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Josiah was killed first when his murderer — or murderers — walked in through the family’s unlocked front door, snuck past two bedrooms with the children sleeping in them, and crushed his skull with an axe.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Anyway, what record keeps Tony Elliott safe from the axe?
B
Brian H.
· Aug 26
The AerLinglus Kick Off Classic showed that GT apparently was able to build a defense in an off season.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Stephen Neukam, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
Automakers are axing a surprising number of SUVs this year, according to Nick Yekikian, senior news editor at automotive research site Edmunds.
—Bailey Schulz, Detroit Free Press, 19 Dec. 2024
But Amazon axed PhotosPlus in late September and inserted ads into photo slideshows.
—Chloe Albanesius, PCMAG, 16 Dec. 2024
Conservatives have long had the fantasy of a ruthless business leader taking the reins of government, axing unproductive federal employees, and eliminating wasteful spending.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Dec. 2024
University of Michigan joins MIT, Harvard in axing diversity programs
Amber Duke and Steven Olikara discuss The University of Michigan’s decision to nix DEI requirements for tenured and incoming faculty.
—The Hill, 6 Dec. 2024
But in the last day or so, Formula 1 site ‘Planet F1’ strongly suggests that hugely popular Australian F1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo, who had been recently axed from Visa Cash App Red Bull, will make a miracle comeback to F1 with the all-new Cadillac team.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
In a blow to Tesla, electric vehicle sales would likely be impacted by Trump’s desire to axe the Inflation Reduction Act, which has massively supported EV and other clean energy projects.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024
Lance Bass claims he once was attached to a CW pilot that was axed due to him coming out as gay in a 2006 PEOPLE cover story.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Next stop is axe throwing to represent Mel’s present as a farm-dwelling horse-owner.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
Listen to this article A man accused of killing his wife with an axe in 2021 while their two young children were in their Ansonia home has been found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 Dec. 2024
Did Shannon, in addition to her tacky bridesmaid dress, bring along her axe?
—Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024
Popular on Variety Either way that Gilmour’s touring regimen might or might not turn out in years to come, the Intuit Dome was a fine place to be alive and living in the moment Friday, under the spell of a man who is very careful with that axe.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Oct. 2024
He’s being investigated in the killing of a minor with an axe.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Indoor activities in the more than 30,000 square-foot facility include games for adults and kids from corn hole to football bowling, ping pong, pickleball, axe throwing and board games.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
According to Smithsonian Magazine, Josiah was killed first when his murderer — or murderers — walked in through the family’s unlocked front door, snuck past two bedrooms with the children sleeping in them, and crushed his skull with an axe.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 Oct. 2024
Anyway, what record keeps Tony Elliott safe from the axe?
B
Brian H.
· Aug 26
The AerLinglus Kick Off Classic showed that GT apparently was able to build a defense in an off season.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
Verb
Schumer axed four judicial nominees in exchange for a path to passage for over a dozen judges through the end of the year.
—Stephen Neukam, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
Automakers are axing a surprising number of SUVs this year, according to Nick Yekikian, senior news editor at automotive research site Edmunds.
—Bailey Schulz, Detroit Free Press, 19 Dec. 2024
But Amazon axed PhotosPlus in late September and inserted ads into photo slideshows.
—Chloe Albanesius, PCMAG, 16 Dec. 2024
Conservatives have long had the fantasy of a ruthless business leader taking the reins of government, axing unproductive federal employees, and eliminating wasteful spending.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Dec. 2024
University of Michigan joins MIT, Harvard in axing diversity programs
Amber Duke and Steven Olikara discuss The University of Michigan’s decision to nix DEI requirements for tenured and incoming faculty.
—The Hill, 6 Dec. 2024
But in the last day or so, Formula 1 site ‘Planet F1’ strongly suggests that hugely popular Australian F1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo, who had been recently axed from Visa Cash App Red Bull, will make a miracle comeback to F1 with the all-new Cadillac team.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
In a blow to Tesla, electric vehicle sales would likely be impacted by Trump’s desire to axe the Inflation Reduction Act, which has massively supported EV and other clean energy projects.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024
Lance Bass claims he once was attached to a CW pilot that was axed due to him coming out as gay in a 2006 PEOPLE cover story.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near axe
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
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